Vending-machine.



W.D.G.WR1GH1 VENDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED .TAN.16, 1911.

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Patented Sept. 12, 1911.

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W, D; C'. WRIGHT. VBNDING MACHINE. APPLIOATION FILED JAN. 16. 1911.

LU?. Patented Sept. 12, 1911.

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Wlan D rm W1 my q "5 ATTURN EYs W. D. C. WRIGHT.

VENDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 11111.16, 1911.

1,003,167. Patented sept. 12,1911.

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AUQRNEY'S,

`have invented certain new and useful Imdo hereby declare the following to be va full,` I clear, and exact description of thel invencipalobject to provide a simple, easily oper- 'in view, .the saidinvention consists, pri- WiLsoN D. onere Winer-mor rHILAnELri-IIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

veniamo-MACHINE.

Speciication of Letters Patent. Il'atented Sept. 12., 1911.

application mea January 16, 1911. serialv No. spaans.

To all whom it'may concern.' Y

Be it'known that I, VVILsoN D. CRAIG v Vniei-rr, citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania,

provements in Vending-Machines; and I tion, such as'will enable others skilled in the art to-Which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and tocharacters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this speciication.

The present invention relates, generally, to improvements in coin-controlled vending machines; and, the present invention has' reference, more particularly, to a novel construction of vending machine for controlling the delivery or discharge from the machine of packages, boxes, or other articles. Thepresent invention has for its prinated, and efficient construction of coin-controlled vending machine vfor vending pack-` ages, boxes, or other articles, in Which the operating' parts are few in number and are simple, but ire most effective in action, at the same time being little liable to become disarranged and inoperative.

Other objects of the present invention notat this time more particularly enumerated will be clearly understood from the following detailed description of my present invention.

lVith the objects of the present invention marily, in the novel. construction of vending machine hereinafter set forth; and, furthermore, this invention consists in the novel arrangements and combinations of the various devices and parts, as Wellas in the details of the construction thereof, allof. which will be hereinafter more fully described, and then iinallyembodied in the clauses of theclaim which are appended to and 'Which form an essential part of this specification. y

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings,. in Iwhich Figure l is a front elevation ofv a coincontrolled vending machine made according to and embodying the principles of the present invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal central vertical section of the same, illustr-ating the interior operative parts of the mechanism. Figs. 3, Al, and 5 are vertical sections, similar t'o that shown in Fig. 2, but each view illustrating someparticular phase of the operation of the said interior operative parts of the mechanism. Fig. 6 is a horizontal cross-section taken on line 6-6 in said Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrow Similar characters of reference are eniployed in all of the hereinabove described views, to indicate corresponding parts.

Referring now to the several figurespf the said drawings, the reference-character 1 indicates a complete vending machine made according to and embodying the principles of. the present invention, the same comprising a suitable casing 2 comprising and providing a compartment 3, an ejector compartment ,4, and a delivery compartment 5, the bottom Walls of the said casing being properly inclined to provide a delivery cliute casing being further provided with a suitable opening 7 giving access to the bottom of said-delivery compartment 5, to Whicl the ejector mechanism delivers packages,

boxes, 'or other articles, when the vending y machine is operated. The said stoclrcompart-ment 3 isadapted to contain a stock of articles S to be vended, and the same may be in the form of packages, boxes, or merely the articles themselves. Said casing 2 is provided at its upper end with a covermember 9 which, When opened, gives access to the interior of said stock compartment when it is desired to replenish the same With a fresh supply of goods. ArranOedin said stock compartment 3, above ,said arti.- cles 8, is a Weight 10, of any desirable form, lthe same being adapted to aid gravity in feeding the articles 8 4to the ejector-mechanism.

Arranged Within said ejector compartment 4c iis-an elector-mechanism. the same Comprising a frame-Work l1 vsuitably secured within said casing 2. Said framework 11 is adapted to slidably support an ejector-member 1Q which'is provided with a rearwardly 'i extending cut-oit" member 13, the latter-serving toeut off the outlet of said stock compartment-s against the passage of the articles 8,' while saidejector-member l2 is moving forward to eject one of said ar- 6, and the front Wall of said' f with a slot or opening 14 which permits the y in proper cooperative relation with each l fied. Formed'in a portion of, said casing 2,

link-member is pivotally secured, in a proper `Said frame-work 11 is furtherprovided -tween the outer end of said guide-portion 17 ticles l lSaid framework-11 is yprovidedpassage ormo'vement of downwardly projecting ears or lugs 15 with which the bottom of said ejector-member is provided.

with a downwardly extending portion 16 4which serves to support one end of a guideportion 17, the same being provided with a tubular bore in which is arranged a tubu` larfelement 18 adapted to slidably `support,

other, a primary plunger 19 and a secondary plunger 20. Said primary plunger' 19 is arranged at the outer. end of said tubular element 18, and the same is provided with 'an outwardly projecting shank 21 having upon its free end av push-piece 22, the latter being presented upon the outer side of said casing. Arranged about the said shank 21, ybeand said pushiece 22, is a spring-element 23 which serves to maintain said primary' plunger 19 in its normal initial position. Said primary plunger 19 is also provided with a receiving socket 24, thepurpose of which will be hereinafter more fully speciregistering above' sa id'guide-portion 17, is a coin-receiver 25, the samebeing provided with aisuitable slot 26 wl-1ichv registers with a slot 27 vwith which said guide-portion 17 and itstubular element 18 1s providedsaid respective slots being arranged and located in such a manner, so that they will present' a coin 28 in front of the inner end of the said primary plunger 19, and Within said tubular element 18. Said secondary plunger 2O is provided at its forward end with an extension 29 of reduced diameter, the same being receivable in said receiving socket 24 of the primary plunger 19. when the latter is moved forwardly, without having first deposited a coin 28, as above described. 'In such an event, said extension 29 will enter within said receiving's cket 24, as the primary plunger moves f rward, thereby permitting the latter to move without causing a correspondinginward movement oi the secondary plunger 20, and a consequent operation of the ejcoter-mechanism. The rear `end 'of said secondary plunger 2O is provided With a pair of ears or lugs 30 and a pin or stud 3 1 carried thereby, or any' other suitable means for pivotally securing tothe saidsecondary pl ringer 2O a link-member rlhe free or outer forked end 33 of said connection, to an oscillating lever-arm 34. The said lever-arm 34 is suitably secured upon a rock-shaft 35, which ,is j ournaled in bearing-members 36 and 37, the said bearing members, being of'any suitable form, and being located or mounted within said ejectorcompartment 4 inany suitablelocation and manner. The upper free end of said oscillating lever-arm 34 is' provided with a slotted portion 38 which is pivotally connected with a suitable pin yor 'stud 39 carried by said downwardly extending ears or lugs 15 4with which the bottom of said ejector-member 12 are provided. Secured upon said rock-shaft 35, so as to oscillate synchro` nously with said lever-arm 34, is a triggerarm 40, the same being arranged at a proper angle. with relation to said lever-arm 34 so that it will performthe functions hereinafter to be described.' Said trigger-arm 40 is provided, adjacent to its free end, with an outwardly extending pin or stud 41 or any other suitable means for securing in operative relation witlr said trigger-arm 40, one end of an actuating spring-member 42, the other end of which' is secured or. anchored upon another pin or stud 43 which is rigidly connected with anysuitable ortion of the said casing 2; it being pre erable, however, lto locate said pin-or stud 43 on a line coincident with a horizontal lane assing through theiaxis of said roc -sha 13,35, so vas to assure a proper actuating operation of said spring-member.

Rigidly connected with said primary plunger 19 is a primary retractor-arm 44, the same passing downwardly through suitable registering slots' or openings 45' and 46 with which saidv tubular-element 18 and said guide-portion 11 are provided, the said slots loo vided with a rigidly connected secondary retractor-arm 49, the same passing downwardly through suitable registering slots or openings 50 and51 with which said tubular member 18 and said guide-portion 17 are provided, the said slots permitting the forward and backward movements of said secondary retractnr-arm 49', when said secondary plunger moved. Said secondary retractor-arm is provided with a rearwardly extending horizontal portion 52, the same extending normally beneath said primary retractor-arm 44, and upon its free end* is an upwardly extending lug or coupling member 53, the latter'y lying, normally, -an appreciable distance forward of the lug or coupling-member 48 of said primary retractor-arm 44. Said secondary retractor-arm 49' is further provide'dwith a suitably disposed perforated '-ear`54, or other suitable fastening means, for connecting therewith one end of a retractor-s ring 55,.the other end, of which issecure toa. suitably dis- 'posedperfo'rated gear 56, or other suitable lso partment 4 after it has performed its't'unction in connection with said ejector-mechanism. The bottom of said ejector-compartmentf4 is provided with a suitably hinged door 59, secured in its closed relation by means of any desirable locking device 60, said door 59 providing access t0 said ejector compartment 4 for the purpose of removing the coins which have been deposited therein.

Arranged Aagainst the upper Wall of said` deliver)T compartment 5, and secured thereto in any desirable mannen-is a. fiat 0r leafspring 61 which serves to retain or hold an article 8 Within said delivery compartment until said ejector-member 12, which delivers the same thereto, returns to its normal initial position after performing its ejecting function.

The operation of my vnovel vending machine constructed as 'above described is as follows z-The coin 28, when deposited Vin the coin-receiving slot 26, is carried in front of said primary plunger 19 and within said tubular element 18,- being so arranged or disposed as to cover the mouth of said receiving socket 24 against the entry of the extension 29. The push-piece 22 is now pressed inwardly. causing thereby an inward movement of said primary plunger 19, which brings4 in contact with the end of .said extension 251', the coin28, whereby the l inward movementof said primary plunger 19 is' communicated to said second plunger 20, .thereby causing an inward movement of the latter. The inward movement of the secondary plunger 20 is communicated vby said link-member 32 to said oscillating lever- `arm 34 and the rock-shaft- 35, whereby the same is caused to -oscillate or swing reaiwardly, thereby carrying forward the said ejector-member 12 upon which rests the lowermost article 8 contained in said stocki (as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings) 4saidlever-arm 34 Vhas only beenv partially os-v cillated; but, in the mean-time, said trigger'- arm. 40 has also been partially oscilla-ted against the tension of said actuating springniember V42, until its point of connection with the spring-member has been carried below a line coincident with a horizontal plane .passing through the axis of said rock-shaft- In other words, the trigger-arm has been caused to pull against said springmember 42 untiladead center has been passed, (as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings) so that the pull of said springinember operatesto continue the oscillation of said trigger-arm 40 toa further limit in the same direction. Thus,` said spriiig-membei' 42* tends to continue the oscillation of the trigger-arm 40, the lever-arm 34, and the rearward movement of the ejectormember-1,2, until the complete ejecting movement of the latter h'as been consummateldyand the article 8 is delivered wliollv within said delivery compartment 5 (als shown in Fig. 4 of said drawings). Thiscompletion of the movement of said ejectormember 12 by means of the action of said actuatingspring 42 tends also t0 contini-ie the inward movement of the secondary plunger 20, which serves two purposes r-- first,l to release the binding and operative connection `of the coin 28 between-said primary and secondary plunger, so that the coin is free to drop, and does drop, through the coin-drop formed by said cut-out portions 57 and 58 into the ejector compartment 4; and, secondly, to bring into opera'- tive connection or coupled relation with each other the respective coupling members 48 retract itself` and`leave the article 8 free to.

drop through said delivery con'ipaitment 5,-

. Chaser. To this end, said flat` or leaf spring G1 engages tohold said article 8. by oit'ering a greater resistance thereto, than the slipping pull of the returning ejector-member .12,.during the retraction of the. latter. The retracting movement of said ejector-mecha-v nism takes place as follows l`he pressure .of the vendee or purchaser being, removed .and 'of the said retractor-arms 44 and 49, l thus preparing said ejector-ineclianism to from said push-piece 22, the vspring-member 23, which has been'y compressed by the inward 'movement thereof,- presses the same outwardly, thereby causing an outward movement of said primary plunger 19 and a corresponding movement of said retractor i arm 44 connected therewith. The couplingmember 48 of the ietractor arm 44 being engaged `operatively with said' coupling-member 53 of the -retractor-arm 49, the outward movement 'of ,the primary plunger '-19 is transmitted through said coupled retractrarms to said secondary plunger 20, the linkmember 32, the lever-arm 34, the. triggera.rm 40, vandl the ejector-inei'nber 12, in a manner clearly to be understood. Further'- more, this inwardmoveinent, as above described, is aided by the pull of the retractorspring 55 connected with said retractorarm 49, and in such a manner, that the pull of the combined resources of said springineinber 23 and said retractor-spring 55 is suflicient to overcome the resistance of the opposite pull of said actuating spring-niember 42 upon said trigger-arm, until the dead center is again passed and said spring-meniber itself aids in the retractive movements of the various parts, (as shown inlig. 5 of the accompanying drawings,) and all the various parts of' said ejector-mechanism are returned to their normal initial positions ready to again perform their several cooperative functions when a coin is deposited in sa'id slot 26 by the 'vendee or purchaser.-

From the above description it will be clearly apparent, that the present invention supplies a novel, efficient and simple construction of vending machine, the ejectormechanism of` which comprises but few .part-s, little likely to become disarranged or out of vorder; and, furthermore, the operation of 't-he ejector-mechanism is easily and quickly accomplished by a simple initial movement or impulse administered by the vendee or purchaser.

I am avvare that changes may be made in the various arrangements and combinations of the several devices and parts, as Well as in the details of the construction of the same, Without departing from the scope of the present invention as described in the foregoing' specification, and as defined in the claims which are appended thereto. Hence, I do not limitmy invention to the exact arrangements and combinations of the various devices and parts as set forth in the said specification, nor do I confine myself to the exactv details of the construction of the said parts, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

I claim 1., Ina vending machine the combination With a casing providing a stock compartment, an ejector' compartment and a delivery -compartment, 'of an ejector-member slidably i arranged beneath said stock compartment,-

an oscillating lever-arm connected with said ejector-member, a manually operated means connected with said oscillating lever arm adapted to move the same to give an initial ej ecting impulse to said ejector-member, and means'connected, With said oscillating leverarm for continuingthe initial movement of the' same tocomplete the ejecting 'movement of said ejector-member independently of said manually operated means, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. In a vending machine the combination with a casing providing a stock compartment", an' ejector compartment and a delivery compartment, of 'anV ejector-member slidably'arranged beneath said stock compartment, an oscillating lever-arm connect/edb with said ejector-member, a manually operated means connected With said oscillating lever arm adapted to move the same to give an initial ejecting impulse to said ejectormember, and means connected with said oscillating lever-arm for continuing the initial movement of the same to complete the ejecting movement of said ejector-member independently of said manually operated means, and means for retracting said oscillating lever arm and said ejector member to their normal initial position, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

3. In a vending machine the combination with a casing providing a stock compartment, an ejector compartment and a delivery compartment, of an ejector-member slidably ejecting impulse to said ejector-member, and

means connected with said oscillating leverarm for continuing the initial movement of the same to complete' the ejecting movement of said ejector-member independently of said manually operated means, comprising a rock-shaft upon Which said oscillating lever-arm is secured, a trigger-arm connected with said rock-shaft, and an actuating spring connected with said. trigger-arm,sub stantially as and for the purposes set forth.

5 4.!Irn a vending machinethe combination with a casing providing a stock compartment, 4an ejector compartment and a delivery compartment, of an ejector-member slidably arranged beneath saidstock compartment, an oscillatinglever arm connected with said ejector-member, a manually operated means connected with said oscillatinglever' arm adapted to inove the same to give an initial ejecting impulse to said ejector-member, and means connected with said oscillating leverarm for continuing the initial movement of the same to complete the ejecting movement of said ejector-member independently of said manually operated means, comprising a rock-shaft upon which said` oscillating lever-armis secured, a trigger-arm connected with said rock-shaft, and an actuatingspring connected with saidtrigger-arm, and

With a casing providing a stock compartment, an ejector compartment and a delivery compartment, of an ejector-member slidably ai-ranged' beneath said stock compartment and in registration with the mouth of said delivery compartment, an oscillating leverarm connected with said ejector-member for ment of said' ejector-member, comprising aoperating the same, a manually operated means for partially oscillating said leverarm to give amanually communicated ejecting impulse to said ejector-member, and means operating inv connection With said lever-arm for continuing its oscillation be yond the point of its manually controlled movement to coi'npleteY the ejecting movetrigger oscillating in cooperation With said lever-arm, and an actuating-spring con nected with said trigger-arm, substantially.

as and for the purposes set Aforth,

In a vending machine, the 'combination with a casing providing` astock compartment, an ejector-compartment and adelivery compartment, of an ejector-member slidably arranged beneath said stock com- 'Jartment and in registration with thel e mouth of said delivery compartment, an oscillating lever-arm connected With said ejector-member for operating the same, a manually voperated means for partiallyoscillating said lever-arm to give a manually communicated ejecting impulse to said ejectormember', and means operating in connection With said lever-arm for continuing its oscil' lation beyond the point of its manually con v trolled movement to complete the eject-ing movement et' said ejector-member, comprising a rock-shaft upon which said lever-arm'.

is secured, a trigger-arm secured upon said rocleshait, and an actuating spring connected with saidltrigger-arm, substantially as and for the purposes setforth.. v.

7. n a vending machine, the` combination with a casing providinga stock compart.

i ment, an ejector'compartment and a delivfio ery Compartment', of an ejector-member slidably arranged beneath said stock compartment and in registration with the. mouth ot' said delivery compartment, an oscillating lever-arm connected with said ejectoimem- `ber for operating the same, a manually operated means for partially' oscillating said lever-arm to give a manually communicated ejecting impulse to said ejcctorn'nember, and means operating in connectlon"with said lever-arm for continuing its oscillatiI n beyond the point of its manually controlled' 'movement to complete the ejectmg movement oi said ejector-mendaci.' comprising a rock-shaft upon which said lever-arm issecured, a trigger-arm secured upon said rockshat't, and an actuating spring connected with said trigger-arm, and means for retracting said oscillating lever-arm, said trigger-arm and said ejector-1nembcr to their normal .initial positions, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

8. la a vendingl machine, the combination with :i causing providing a stock `compartment, an ejcvor colnpartn'ient and a 'delivery comparinient, of an ejector-rneinher slidalily arranged beneath said stock compartment and in lregistration With the mouth of said delivery compartment, an oscillating lever-arm connected Withsaid ejec tor-member for operating the same, a manually operated means for partially oscillating said lcvenarm to give a manually communicated ejccting impulse to said ejector-member, and means operating in connection with said lever-arm Yfor continuing its oscillation beyond the point o'f'its manually controlled movement to ,complete the ejecting movement of said' ejector-member, comprising a rock-shaft upon which said leveia1m is l secured, a trigger-arm 4secured upon said rock-shaft, and an actuating spring conynected With said trigger-arm,jand means for reti-acting said oscillating lever-arm, said trigger-arm and said ejector-member to their normal initial positions, comprising retractor-arms connected with said manually operated means connected with said lever-arm, couplinginen1bers connected with each retractor-arm and adapted to be brought into coupled relation With each' other upon the completion of the ejecting movement oft said ejector-member, and a retractorespring connected with one of" said retractor-arms, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

9. In a vending machine the combination Wit-h a casing providing a stock compartment,an ejector compartment and a delivery compartment, of an,ejcoter-memberl slidably arranged beneath sald stock com-v with said lever-arm,.coupling members coni neet-ed with, each rctractor-arm adapted t be broughtrinto coupled relation with cach other upon the completion offthc ejecting movement ot' said ejector-member, and a ret-ractor-spri-ng c i1i1ected"with one otl said retractor-arms, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

l0. In a Vending-machine,` a slid-ably mounted ejector-member, a rock-shaft, an oscillating lever-arm secured on said rockshaft and connected with said ejector-member, and means for rocking said rocloshat't to continue the 'forwardmovement ot said lever-arm and ejector-member, comprising a tr1ggerarm secured lo said rock-shaft,

anden actuating spring connected With the free end of said triggenarm, substantially as and for the p'urpose sel*l forth.

11. In :L ,Vending-machine a sliably.

mounted ejector-member, a, rock-shaft, an oscillating lever-ai'rnseeured on said rockshaft and ConnectedY W'ih said ejector-Ine1nberyand Ymeans for rocking said rock-shaft to continue" Lbhe forward movement of said lo liever-arm and ejector-member, comprising trigger-arm secured to said rock-shaft,

`and .an actuating spring connected with the free end of said trigger-arm, and means for retracting said lever-arm, ejector-member, and trigger-arm to their normal initial posi- 15 tions. V

In testimony, that I claim the invention set forth above I have hereunto set my hund this 12th day of January, 1911.

` WILSON D. CRAIG IVRIGHT. 

